Social buttons

Languages

Barca wary of depleted PSG

Paris Saint-Germain will be without key players when they face Barcelona next month, but Luis Enrique is taking nothing for granted.

Published

20 March 2015

Luis Enrique will not underestimate a Paris Saint-Germain side that will be without suspended duo Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti when Barcelona travel to the French capital for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Ibrahimovic and Verratti received a red and yellow card respectively in the second leg of PSG's last-16 tie at Chelsea, meaning they will miss out against the four-time champions of Europe on April 15.

Losing talisman and former Barca striker Ibrahimovic is a huge setback for Laurent Blanc, but Luis Enrique has warned his players against getting complacent.

The Barca coach told the club's official website following Friday's last-eight draw: "The absence of Ibrahimovic and Verratti is important but they have other players who are equally dangerous.

"Having the return leg at home is big. It's important to get a good result in Paris and try to qualify for the semi-finals in front of our fans.

"They're very dangerous and we have a lot of respect for them."

Barca and PSG, who overcame Premier League clubs Manchester City and Chelsea in the last 16, faced each other in the group stages, when both sides triumphed on home soil.

Luis Enrique added: "We have experience from the group stage, with a win and a defeat.

"After beating Chelsea they showed they're a strong candidate to win the competition."